AGCO's Hesston celebrated its 25,000th large square baler--a 2170XD 4’x3’ baler--this week when it rolled off the line at the company's manufacturing facility in Hesston, Kan.

"Some of the same things that drove the design in the 1970s are the same that are driving our industry today," says Steve Koep, vice president of sales for AGCO North America.

In 1978, the large square baler became the efficiency solution to challenges of higher input costs and more production, he adds. The cost of fuel is now driving change to capturing biomass for energy production—wheat straw, corn stalks, switchgrass and other biomass crops.

Pacific Ag operates the largest agricultural residue and hay harvesting business in the U.S. To serve its global customers, the company has one of the largest fleets of balers, windrowing and bale stacking equipment in the U.S. and has a nearly year-around harvest schedule in its seven-state operation area.

Started in 1998, and due largely to the growth of biomass energy production and livestock feed demand globally, Pacific Ag has experienced more than 250% growth over the last three years and expects to double again in the next 24 months.